U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, that it had reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to establish the first bilateral task force dedicated to accelerating the development of artificial intelligence applications in the military domain, a step reflecting the deepening defense partnership between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by U.S. Central Command, the task force, named “Task Force Talon Synapse,” is set to officially launch in the coming weeks. The team will be based in Abu Dhabi and will include around 20 American and Emirati experts specializing in artificial intelligence, data, and cybersecurity.
The statement quoted the commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, as saying that this step represents a historic achievement in the framework of cooperation with one of the most capable regional partners, aimed at accelerating the adoption of the latest advances in artificial intelligence to support U.S. military forces. He affirmed a shared commitment with the Emirati side to adopting these applications in a way that fosters innovation quickly and at scale.
According to the same statement, Admiral Cooper had discussed the idea of establishing this task force last year with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and National Security Advisor, an idea that was later translated into a formal agreement. U.S. Central Command also held meetings during a visit to the region last month with leaders of companies specializing in artificial intelligence and Emirati defense officials, as part of preparations for launching the initiative.
CENTCOM notes, according to what the military command states in its statement, that the task force will focus on integrating artificial intelligence applications across three main areas: intelligence support, protection of critical infrastructure, and monitoring of the regional security environment. This step comes within a broader context of deepening defense and technological rapprochement between Washington and Abu Dhabi, which recently saw the U.S. Department of Commerce expand the UAE’s access to advanced military and space technologies, reflecting a shift in the UAE’s classification among the United States’ key defense partners.
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